{"id":162514,"url":"https://alion.io/job/cmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist","title":"Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist","company":{"id":46403,"name":"Software Engineering Institute","domain":"sei.cmu.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/sei-cmu","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":17,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":32,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"AI/ML","role_family":"AI/ML","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Pittsburgh, United States","Arlington, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":129000,"max_usd":248000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":1268},"experience_years_min":10,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Machine Learning","optional":false},{"name":"Motion Planning","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-27T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-27","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T07:47:31Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":56,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":56},"description":"Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist\nAs AI-enabled autonomous systems get closer to widespread deployment, fundamental research questions remain around their development and use, especially in high-stakes environments. How can we guarantee systems respond appropriately in critical scenarios? How can we employ collaborative autonomy to maximize mission objectives? What is the appropriate level of autonomy to enable a specific mission?\nThe AI for Autonomy Lab within the SEI’s AI Division is recruiting a Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist who has a passion for solving complex problems in real-world, mission-critical environments to tackle questions like these. The lab is focused on the lifecycle of AI-enabled autonomous systems and helping our sponsors apply AI appropriately to increase system effectiveness without adding unacceptable risk.\nPosition Summary: As a Senior Autonomous Systems Research Scientist you will develop a research agenda and lead/conduct research in support of critical U.S. government needs.\nThe ideal candidate will have a strong background with hands-on experience solving problems in one or more of the following technology areas:\n Applied Machine Learning and AI: Research and implement machine learning principles, techniques, and architectures on autonomous systems in varying domains (e.g., air, sea, land).\nUxV Autonomy: Create tools and techniques for evaluating and explaining AI-enabled autonomous system performance.\nCollaborative Autonomy: Study AI approaches to motion planning, task planning, mission planning, and command and control to enable effective, resilient, and scalable teaming.\nCounter-Autonomy: Investigate system development approaches and methods for mitigating vulnerabilities associated with the inclusion of machine learning in autonomous systems.\nModeling and Simulation: Use simulation to develop techniques for data-driven evaluation of real-world learning-based autonomous systems.\nDuties:\nHands-on Research: Lead novel research in applied machine learning and robotics.\nSolution Development: Lead interdisciplinary teams to turn research results into prototype operational capabilities for government customers and stakeholders.\nCollaboration: Actively participate with researchers, developers, engineers, designers, technical leads, campus labs, and our government customers to understand challenges, needs, and potential solutions.\nMentoring: Mentor and teach junior staff, lead technical sessions, and contribute to the establishment of technical norms for the Lab.\nIntellectual Curiosity: Maintain awareness of the latest in AI-enabled autonomous systems, especially as it pertains to National Security use cases.\nTechnical Communication: Develop and deliver compelling technical presentations for diverse audiences, tailor content for varied stakeholders, speak at conferences and workshops, and publish in pertinent peer-reviewed journals.\nKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities\nA published track record of conducting machine learning and robotics research and applying scientific methods\nExperience leading research projects and collaborating across research teams and stakeholders\nStrong written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to convey complex technical ideas to diverse audiences\nExperience writing and delivering successful research proposals to funding agencies and leading the resulting projects\nExperience with programming languages such as Python, C/C++, and other pertinent languages and frameworks\nFamiliarity with state of practice, emerging trends and opportunities in industry and government focusing on maritime, land, or space domains\nExperience working with Department of War and Intelligence Community preferred\nRequirements\nBS in Robotics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline with ten (10) years of experience; OR MS in the same fields with eight (8) years of experience; OR PhD in the same fields with five (5) years of experience.\nYou will be subject to a background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of War security clearance.\nThis position is based onsite 5 days per week at SEI's offices in either Pittsburgh, PA or Arlington, VA.\nWilling to travel up to 25% of the time to locations outside of your home location. Travel sites include SEI offices in Pittsburgh and Arlington, sponsor sites, conferences, and offsite meetings.\nLocation\nArlington, VA, Pittsburgh, PAJob Function\nSoftware/Applications Development/EngineeringPosition Type\nStaff - RegularFull time/Part time\nFull timePay Basis\nSalaryMore Information:\nPlease visit “Why Carnegie Mellon ” to learn more about becoming part of an institution inspiring innovations that change the world.\n\nClick here to view a listing of employee benefits\n\nCarnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.\n\nStatement of Assurance","description_format":"text","description_chars":4917,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":10,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Artificial Intelligence","Education","Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-08-27T00:00:00Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":23,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.51,"p_room":0.45,"age_days":56,"expected_fill_days":32,"reasons":["conf:10","stale_co","velocity","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/cmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/cmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T07:53:40Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":3796,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":46403},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=46403"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fcmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fcmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fcmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/cmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fcmu-senior-autonomous-systems-research-scientist"}]}